A new booklist which recommends reading to help children aged 7-11 (Key Stage 2) and their families understand their feelings and worries and cope with tough times is now available in all North Somerset Libraries.

The new Reading Well for Children booklist is part of the national Reading Well programme and was launched nationally at the beginning of February as part of Children’s Mental Health Week.

Over a third of parents of children aged 4-11 (34%) worry about their child’s mental health at least once a week, and almost two thirds (60%) of children aged 8-11 say they feel stressed, sad or worried at least once a month. Schools are on average making 183 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referrals every school day and 56% of these come from primary schools.

The 33 titles in the new collection provides quality-assured information, advice and stories to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. The books are all selected and endorsed by health experts, children and families. The collection includes fiction, information and poetry books across a range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

The list covers general information and advice about: maintaining good mental health and wellbeing; understanding and managing feelings; dealing with worries; navigating the world around you, including at school, online and in the news; dealing with tough times, including when someone dies, trauma, and when a parent or carer has mental health needs; and support for living well with specific diagnosed conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and physical disabilities.

The Reading Well programme is delivered nationally in public libraries by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected and funded by Arts Council England.

There are four additional Reading Well booklists which are also available in North Somerset Libraries covering adults’ mental health, young people’s mental health, long term conditions, and dementia. The scheme is free to use and all Reading Well titles can be borrowed for a longer period of six weeks. If the title you want is not on the shelf you can reserve a copy for free. To find out more ask in at any North Somerset library or visit www.reading-well.org.uk.